China's Mediation Fails to Resolve Pakistan-Afghanistan Tensions: What’s Next?
Diplomatic Talks Conclude Without Agreement
Beijing: A week-long series of discussions mediated by China between Pakistan and Afghanistan has ended without a conclusive agreement. However, Beijing has indicated that both Islamabad and Kabul are open to exploring a comprehensive resolution to their ongoing disputes.
The informal talks took place from April 1 to 7 in Urumqi, the capital of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, as confirmed by Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
These discussions marked the first significant diplomatic engagement between the two nations since Pakistan initiated Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in late February, aimed at targeting alleged terrorist hideouts within Afghanistan.
Pakistan has accused the Taliban-led Afghan government of providing refuge to members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), both of which have been responsible for insurgent activities in Pakistan, leading to repeated attacks across various provinces.
Mao noted that representatives from the three countries engaged in open and pragmatic discussions, focusing on problem-solving and actionable outcomes.
The parties emphasized that dialogue and consultation are essential for resolving complex international disputes, particularly those between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
They agreed to seek a comprehensive solution to the issues affecting their bilateral relations, identifying both core and priority concerns.
When asked about the possibility of future meetings, Mao expressed that maintaining communication is a vital consensus, and the Urumqi process holds significant meaning, suggesting that further dialogue can be anticipated.
China highlighted that terrorism remains a central issue impacting Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, although it did not explicitly endorse Islamabad's claims regarding Kabul's support for militant groups.
China also has its own concerns regarding the presence of Uyghur militants from the East Turkestan Islamic Movement in Afghanistan, who are fighting for independence for Xinjiang.
The discussions were further complicated by a report from UN experts, which stated that Pakistan's claims about militants in Afghanistan lacked credible evidence.
Last month, UN experts called for both nations to commit to a permanent ceasefire, noting that Pakistan had not provided credible evidence linking TTP attacks to Afghan authorities.
The report from the UN human rights office indicated that Pakistan's military actions against Afghanistan contravene the prohibition on the use of force as outlined in Article 2 of the United Nations Charter.
In response, Pakistan challenged the UN experts' stance on the lack of evidence, asserting that numerous UN and international reports have corroborated its claims.
Afghanistan has consistently denied harboring these groups and has urged Islamabad to take action against them, asserting that such groups operate from within Pakistan.
The Urumqi talks involved mid-level officials from both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In summarizing the discussions, Mao stated that both Afghan and Pakistani representatives reaffirmed their status as Muslim brothers and close neighbors.
The three parties acknowledged that, given the complex and volatile international and regional landscape, fostering good-neighborly relations is vital for the welfare of their populations and for peace and stability in South Asia.
They reiterated that dialogue and consultation are realistic and effective methods for resolving intricate international disputes, including those between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
China reiterated the importance of addressing terrorism as a core issue in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, and all parties recognized the significant implications of the Urumqi process, agreeing to continue their communication and dialogue on this matter.